One-handed surface sampling device

Abstract

A sampling apparatus and method for collecting chemical and biological samples is disclosed and claimed. A surface sampling apparatus is designed to simplify taking successive environmental samples using one hand. In addition, the sampling bag used with the apparatus serves as both safety barrier and transport bag and is prepared with multiple sampling surfaces and in wet or dry formats.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sampling apparatus, comprising:
 an elongate bracket-having a plurality of clips; 
 a plurality of sample bags, each bag comprising:
 a body having opposing flat sides forming a front and a back, said front and back flat sides sealed on three edges and open on a top edge, said body having an inside surface and an outside surface; 
 a resealable rim around the top edge of the body on the inside surface; 
 a sample pad mounted on the front flat side of the inside surface of the body; and 
 a tab mounted on a lower edge of the outside surface of the body; and 
 
 wherein each bag of said plurality of sample bags is turned inside out so that the sample pad is on the outside and the tab is on the inside and the resealable rim is retained within a clip on the elongate bracket such that front flat side of the body is closest to the elongate bracket and the plurality of sample bags are nested inside each other. 
 
     
     
       2. The sampling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate bracket further comprises a rear elongate leg attached to an upper end of the elongate bracket on the opposite side of the elongate bracket from the plurality of clips, wherein said rear elongate leg is adapted for removeably attaching the sampling apparatus to a user. 
     
     
       3. The sampling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sample bags further comprises between approximately 5 and 10 sample bags. 
     
     
       4. The sampling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sampling pad further comprises a tacky adhesive pad. 
     
     
       5. The sampling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sampling pad further comprises cellulose, microfoam or melamine foam. 
     
     
       6. The sampling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sampling pad further comprises cotton, gelatins, static charged fabrics, or microfiber cloth. 
     
     
       7. A method of taking samples using a sampling apparatus, said sampling apparatus comprising:
 an elongate bracket having a plurality of clips; 
 a plurality of sample bags, each bag comprising a body having opposing flat sides forming a front and a back, said front and back flat sides sealed on three edges and open on a top edge, said body having an inside surface and an outside surface; a resealable rim around the top edge of the body on the inside surface; a sample pad mounted on the front flat side of the inside surface of the body; and a tab mounted on the lower edge of the outside surface of the body relative to the sample pad; and 
 wherein each bag of said plurality of sample bags is turned inside out so that the sample pad is on the outside and the tab is on the inside and the resealable rim is retained within a clip on the elongate bracket such that the front flat side of the body is closest to the elongate bracket and the plurality of sample bags are nested inside each other; 
 
       the method comprising:
 inserting a hand into an innermost sample bag of said nested plurality of sample bags; 
 removing the bag from the nested set by pulling the resealable rim from the clip; 
 taking a sample from a surface with the sample pad; 
 inverting the sample bag; and 
 sealing the resealable rim to enclose the sample pad inside the bag. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of removeably attaching the sampling apparatus to a user with a rear elongate leg attached to an upper end of the elongate bracket on the opposite side of the elongate bracket from the plurality of clips. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sampling pad further comprises a tacky adhesive pad. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sampling pad further comprises cellulose, microfoam or melamine foam. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sampling pad further comprises cotton, gelatins, static charged fabrics, or microfiber cloth.